Vitale, Packer lead seven inductees for College Basketball Hall of Fame

SAN ANTONIO — An odd couple, three former players and two coaches were announced Sunday as the seven inductees in the third class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

College basketball broadcasters Dick Vitale and Billy Packer, the yin and yang of the court-side microphone, were inducted along with former players Danny Manning of Kansas, Charles Barkley of Auburn, Arnie Ferrin of Utah plus coaches Nolan Richardson and Jim Phelan.

Vitale was the only inductee who was present Sunday morning.

“There always has been a lot of talk about Billy and I, people who say we’re different,” Vitale said. “He’s the flamboyant one and I’m the shy and introverted guy. But we both have a terrific love for the game of basketball.”

Vitale said that he takes criticism to heart.

“I’m loud, I talk a lot,” he said. “You don’t have to go to Harvard to figure that out.”

This is the eighth hall of fame that has inducted Vitale. He is expected to be announced as an inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday morning.

“I can’t run, can’t jump, can’t shoot and I’ve got a body by linguini,” Vitale said. “But I’ve been honored by those halls of fame for one reason: Enthusiasm.”

The National Association of Basketball Coaches, which is headquartered in Kansas City, conceived the College Basketball Hall of Fame because of frustrations with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s induction process.

“It’s great that a player like Danny Manning and a coach like Nolan Richardson are being recognized at the collegiate level,” Vitale said. “It’s phenomenal they’re giving recognition to people on the collegiate level.”

The class of honorees will be inducted at the College Basketball Experience at the Sprint Center in Kansas City on Nov. 23.